Lake Worth Alters Plan To Pick Attorney

July 3, 1985|By Sally Gelston, Staff Writer

LAKE WORTH — Hours after the Lake Worth City Commission decided Tuesday to interview four finalists for city attorney, Commissioner Ed Shepherd called for a meeting to instead hire the current assistant city attorney, Rick Rednor.

Three commissioners consented to a special meeting to discuss hiring Rednor, set for 10 a.m. Friday, so no interviews with the others were arranged, said Mayor David Hinsa.

Those who agreed to the meeting were Shepherd and Commissioners Ron Exline and George Harrs.

City Commissioner Andy Andrews and Hinsa did not consent to the meeting.

``I am not in favor of such an impetuous, unthought-out move. After we have gone to the trouble and expenditure to advertise for those 31 candidates and found the four we want to interview,`` Andrews said.

``I don`t know if it would be unprofessional, but it would certainly be unethical not to interview all four,`` Andrews said.

Shepherd did not list Rednor among his top five choices during the selection process early Tuesday.

``I was floored that Shepherd swung about face like that,`` said Exline, who along with Andrews and Harrs placed Rednor among his top five.

``I can take the flack. Already my phone is ringing off the hook,`` Shepherd said.

Shepherd said he wants Rednor for the job because he already knows the city and will work for $45,600 a year. Also, Shepherd said he did not like any of the other finalists.

``This youngster has paid the price. He`s shown he wants to work. He`s willing to put in the hours,`` Shepherd said.

Rednor, 25, graduated from Nova Law Center in Fort Lauderdale in May 1984. Since last August, he has been affiliated with City Attorney Jim Adams` law firm of Gibson and Adams in West Palm Beach.

Exline said he would be willing to hire Rednor only if he comes down in price. ``I think his fees are excessive in light of his experience,`` he said.

Rednor proposed staying with the law firm, but working a 40-hour week in City Hall and attending night meetings for a flat fee of $3,800 a month plus $5,500 a year for professional liability insurance.

Additional legal research from other members of the Gibson and Adams firm would cost $75 an hour. And the handling of lawsuits, from preparation to courtroom arguments, would cost $100 an hour.

The city advertised for a full-time attorney willing to work for $40,000 to $50,000 a year. It was thought that a full-time attorney would save the city money for legal costs -- which are budgeted for $300,425 this year.

In addition to Rednor, the other finalists were:

(BU) Neal Dwight Bowen, 37, the part-time city attorney for South Daytona Beach and former full-time city attorney for Sanibel. He received his law degree in 1973 from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

(BU) James A. Thomas, 43, an assistant general counsel for Broward County since 1979. Beforehand he held three jobs an assistant attorney -- for Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach.

(BU) William N. Drake, 39, an assistant city attorney for St. Petersburg since his 1975 graduation from the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville.

In the process of choosing the finalists, Bowen and Thomas were favored by four of the commissioners. Rednor and Drake were supported by three.

Among the 27 rejected candidates was Frank Kreidler, former city attorney and Lake Worth Utilities Authority attorney. Kreidler received two votes of support from City Commissioners Harrs and Shepherd.

Riviera Beach City Attorney Allan Everard, also not selected as a finalist, was backed by Harrs and Shepherd.